About the Elizabeth Line
The Elizabeth line - officially opened by King Charles III (as Prince of Wales) in May 2022 - is the most significant addition to London's transport network in a generation. Running 118 km from Reading and Heathrow in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, its 41 stations include some of the most dramatically designed on the global metro network. Designed by Grimshaw Architects and named in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, the central tunnel section runs beneath central London connecting Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf in minutes. The line carries up to 200 million passengers a year and has radically transformed east-west journey times across London.
History
The Elizabeth line, formerly known as Crossrail and before that the Central London Rail Study, was planned for decades before construction began in 2009. The project involved tunnelling 42 km of new tunnel beneath central London - the largest construction project in European history at the time. The project suffered years of delays and cost overruns, with the central tunnel section finally opening in May 2022, several years late. The line was officially named the Elizabeth line in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, who had reigned since 1952. Its opening transformed journey times across London and relieved pressure on the overcrowded central Underground network.
Stations on this Line
23 stops along the route
Line Statistics
Travel Tips
- 1The Elizabeth line is the fastest way between Heathrow and central London - Paddington in 40 minutes from Terminal 5
- 2The new central tunnel stations (Paddington to Whitechapel) are enormous - follow the signs, they can be confusing at first
- 3Crossrail Place Roof Garden above Canary Wharf Elizabeth line station is a free, spectacular tropical garden
- 4The Elizabeth line runs through-running services - trains from Reading continue all the way to Shenfield without changing
- 5Fares from Heathrow on the Elizabeth line are significantly cheaper than the Heathrow Express from Paddington
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the Elizabeth Line in London.